Forum Moderators: travelin cat
The only problem I have with mac's is the way that programs stay open even after you x them out.
The only way to fully close a program is to go to ex: Safari- Quit Safari or Command Q. Either way this requires an extra step compared to simply clicking on the red close button. Why do they do this?! :(
Is there a 3rd party program which rectifies this?
I'm not a programmer, but this shouldn't be too hard to do. Come on UNIX-heads!
I prefer this to the Windows way...I mean, if you close all windows in Windows, does it quit (exit) windows?...but I understand it is my preference. It seems like I remember an app that would Quit the app when all windows were closed, but I can't find it now...if I run across it, I will post the name...you could probably use AppleScript to do this, but it would take a bit of programming.
Some other pretty hot debates about preferences:
1) Floating Windows: (Even when you hit "Maximize" the window is not stationary)
2) Command versus Control: Believe it or not, this can create HUGE debates about users preferences.
3) Start Menu versus the Dock: I crack up at some of the debates I've seen [Maybe I purposely fueled a couple too ;0)] on this "issue". One person even went and said that there needs to bee a "Standard" for operating system layout and navigation. lol
4) One buttoned Mouse versus two: Now this one, even though most will agree that a 'two-buttoned' mouse is more productive, you still have those Mac-Heads that say their one-button out performes any two-button they have ever tried. (This is a classic case of narrow minded in my opinion)
Those are just a few... there are a LOT more that have to do with preferences, but those are the most prevalent in my mind :0)
Vetteman, I am glad you enjoy your Macintosh. If you have problems in the future, this is the place to ask!
-- Zak
I have to agree with Vetteman on the closing of programs. What's the point of the yellow/minimize button if "closing" the program does essentially the same thing? There seems to be lax uniformity among the programs I've used when it comes to what the red button does. Some actually close the file you're using, others merely minimize it.
This isn't a big deal to me, as I'm now accustomed to hitting C-Q every time I close something. The thing I really don't care for is the way the toolbar works. I hate having to right click on the firefox icon in order to switch to another window I've got open. Yes, I know about tabbed browsing. No, I don't care to use it in all instances. Frequently I've got so many pages open that I categorize them in different windows, then subcategorize them with tabs.
All in all I'm pleased with my purchase.
This would be a very simple program to make, but I don't have time to learn how to program it.
With the current system, you must ALWAYS take 2 steps/ and or 2 hands to completely close the program, and this is just innefficient.
I use command Q, but I don't want to settle.
If you wish to quit when you close the window, just use command-q (which quite the program) instead of command-w that just closes the window.
This has been what I consider one of the many reasons mac's are superior then wintel machines, you do not have this option with them
Your right, but not really ;0)
On Windows machines when you open say 'Word' and close it, do you ever notice that it runs faster the second time around and ever subsiquent 'opening'? That's becasue some of the DLL's and API's are still running becasue they are considered "shared" files. So even if you don't see it in your Task Monitor, the technically ARE still running even though you get the splash screen every time.
P.S. I am primarily a Mac user, but I also develop for Windows machines, so I am acustomed to how they run. I use Mac because of the platform and usability, because in almost every other way Mac and Windows Run with the same concepts in mind, even though programmatically they differ. So the way the windows close without closing the program is not a matter of memory (since Windows does the same thing in a different way), it's a matter of preferences ;0)
Personally, I prefer the way Mac does it...
-- Zak
The biggest benefit so far has been that I don't waste all my time playing games anymore
I wonder why Apple's marketing team hasn't capitalized on this yet.
OK, back on topic -- You can open the "Activity Monitor" utility to see which apps will sit quietly in the background not bothering anyone, and which ones will use 100 Mb and 10% of your processor just idling (Excel, I'm looking in your direction). The well behaved ones don't need to be quit, so use the red button on them.
Excel, I'm looking in your direction
timster,
Just for fun, I opened Excel, and played with a few docs, and then closed the window. Excel and Word both sit quietly near the bottom of the list. Excel sits at 19.8MB idle and 0.00% CPU usage. Maybe you have a Macro Virus? That could explain the CPU usage when the program is supposed to be idle. I'd look at the network and see what's coming and going when at idle. ;0)
Also I suppose it depends on your system... My CPU even when running photoshop full time is only at 50%, so I suppose my machine wouldn't be as nit-picky as others. But still, using 10% at idle (unless looking at (null), which is the Classic Environment), doesn't sound normal to me.
-- Zak
With the current system, you must ALWAYS take 2 steps/ and or 2 hands to completely close the program...
How so? I don't understand...What are the two steps? The ones I know require only one:
App Name->Quit
Click and hold on Dock icon (or setup mouse button for Control Click)->Quit
Command Q
The Win method requires multiple steps if you have multiple windows open, but unless you count every mouse movement, there is still only one step for Macs.
But still, using 10% at idle ... doesn't sound normal to me.
The numbers were "off the cuff" only, and I probably should have picked on iPhoto for hogging CPU cycles while hidden. (My work machine is a little hungry for RAM/disk space and can generally use Excel's 16Mb.)
To restate sans MS-bashing, the Activity Monitor can help you decide whether using Apple-H, the red button, or Apple-Q is the best way (on a given system) to get a given app out of the way.
